Valère Basilica

The Valère Basilica (French: Basilique de Valère), also called Valère castle (French: Château de Valère), is a fortified Roman Catholic church in Sion in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It sits on a hill and offers great views. Across the valley stands the Château de Tourbillon.

The basilica is famous for its history and beautiful design. It has been important to the people of Sion for many years. People visit from all over to see its special style and learn about the past.

As a Swiss heritage site of national significance, the Valère Basilica is protected. This helps keep its history and beauty safe for everyone to enjoy in the future. It is a symbol of the area's culture and religion.

Geography

The Valère Basilica is on a hill near the town of Sion in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. The church sits at the top of the hill, surrounded by old stone walls. Because the hill is uneven, the only way to reach the basilica is from the northeast.

The hill has many protected plants and animals. You can find species like the European green lizard, the European mantis, and the scarce swallowtail butterfly. The plants include special types of grass, flowers, and shrubs that grow in this dry, sunny area. These plants and animals are important, so the area is protected by law.

History

The Diocese was started in Octodurum, now called Martigny, in the early 300s. In 589, the bishop, St. Heliodorus, moved to Sion because Octodurum was often flooded by the Rhone and Drance rivers. By the late 900s, the last King of Upper Burgundy, Rudolph III, gave control of Valais to Bishop Hugo. This made the Prince-Bishops very powerful, and Sion became an important place for politics and religion.

Construction of Valère Basilica began in the 1100s in the Romanesque style, and later changed to the Gothic style. Over time, the church grew with new parts like the apse, nave, and choir. Famous features such as the organ and colorful wall paintings were added in the 1400s. In 1987, it was given special recognition as a minor basilica when Pope John Paul II visited.

Valère organ

The Pipe organ on the west side of the Valère Basilica is very special. People think it was made in 1435, which makes it one of the oldest organs that still works today. It was likely brought to the church by Guillaume de Rarogne, who later became the bishop of Sion. The organ’s pipes are arranged to look like a church — the bigger pipes make two towers, and the smaller ones form a triangle shape for the roof. In the 1700s, the organ was changed a little so it could play certain kinds of music, but it mostly looks the same as it did hundreds of years ago. The organ was carefully fixed up in 1954 to keep it in good shape.